Forwards |
Current team |
'08-09 stats |
Scuttlebutt |
Marian Hossa |
Detroit |
40-31-72 in 74 GP |
Signed with Chicago: The only 40-goal scorer on the market, Hossa took a one-year deal from Detroit last year, ignoring much bigger multiyear offers. He had a disappointing showing in the Final and didn't get the Cup he was seeking. He took a long-term deal with the Hawks. |
Martin Havlat |
Chicago |
29-48-77 in 81 GP |
Signed with Minnesota: The Wild wasted little time after Marian Gaborik headed for New York to bring in Havlat, Chicago's leading scorer in 2008-09. The Wild hope he can stay healthy -- something he hadn't done until this season. |
Marian Gaborik |
Minnesota |
13-10-23 in 17 GP |
Signed with Rangers: Gaborik was the wild card in free agency. His skill is unquestioned, but he's been plagued with injuries for most of his career. The Rangers are betting that he'll be able to stay healthy and deliver the kind of offense they lacked in 2008-09. |
Henrik Sedin |
Vancouver |
22-60-82 in 82 GP |
Re-signed with Vancouver: "The Twins" have played their entire career together in Vancouver and don't want to split up now. They took matching five-year deals to stay with the only franchise they've ever known. |
Daniel Sedin |
Vancouver |
31-51-82 in 82 GP |
Mike Cammalleri |
Calgary |
39-43-82 in 81 GP |
Signed with Montreal: The cap-strapped Flames were unable to keep Cammalleri, who's coming off a career-high 39-goal season and is still only 27. The Canadiens hope his scoring touch will continue to develop. |
Joe Sakic |
Colorado |
2-10-12 in 15 GP |
Does Colorado's longtime captain, coming off an injury-plagued season, plan to play again? And if so, does the native of British Columbia want to go back to the rebuilding Avs, the only franchise he's ever played for, after their worst season in Colorado? |
Saku Koivu |
Montreal |
16-34-50 in 65 GP |
Few players have given as much of themselves to the Canadiens as Koivu, but at age 34 and with diminishing offensive skills, Montreal's captain may not fit into their plans. If not, there will still be a market for his services -- possibly starting in Minnesota, where younger brother Mikko is captain. |
Alex Kovalev |
Montreal |
26-39-65 in 78 GP |
Kovalev's offensive numbers dropped significantly from 2007-08, when he led the Canadiens to first place in the East. At 36, he can still be a dominant offensive force, but potential suitors have to wonder if he'll bring his "A" game every night. |
Robert Lang |
Montreal |
18-21-39 in 50 GP |
Lang turns 39 in December and is coming off an Achilles tendon injury, potentially limiting the size and length of his contract. But before he got hurt, he showed he still had something left. Montreal missed him badly after he got hurt. |
Alex Tanguay |
Montreal |
16-25-41 in 50 GP |
Like Lang, Tanguay is coming off an injury-ruined season. His point production has dropped from 81 to 58 to 41 in the past three seasons. Would the Quebec native be willing to take less to remain in Montreal? |
Maxim Afinogenov |
Buffalo |
6-14-20 in 48 GP |
Afinogenov's play has dropped off severely in the past two seasons, during which he's also been plagued by injuries. He might need to go somewhere else and get a fresh start. |
Nik Antropov |
NY Rangers |
28-31-59 in 81 GP |
Signed with Atlanta: Players with size and good hands will always find a home. Antropov found one in Atlanta, which will be glad to add his offensive skills to a group that includes Ilya Kovalchuk and Bryan Little. |
Brian Gionta |
New Jersey |
20-40-60 in 81 GP |
Signed with Montreal: Gionta, a career Devil at age 30, hasn't had more than 25 goals in any of the three seasons since his 48-goal explosion in 2005-06. The Canadiens may pair him with former Devils teammate Scott Gomez. |
Mike Knuble |
Philadelphia |
27-20-47 in 82 GP |
Signed with Washington: At 37, he's still a good offensive producer (especially on the power play) and a great character guy. He should provide the young Caps with scoring and leadership. |
Petr Sykora |
Pittsburgh |
25-21-46 in 76 GP |
Having re-signed Bill Guerin, the Penguins may opt to let Sykora walk away. The 32-year-old is coming off his 10th consecutive season with 20 or more goals, but was a non-factor in the playoffs, playing in only seven games (just one in the Final) and producing only one assist. |
Ian Laperriere |
Colorado |
7-12-19 in 74 GP |
Signed with Philadelphia: Laperriere, now 35, still brings character and toughness with him. He'll be a welcome addition to the Flyers. |
John Madden |
New Jersey |
7-16-23 in 76 GP |
Signed with Chicago: At 36, Madden's on the move after spending his career in New Jersey. He's coming off a season in which he went from 20 goals and 43 points to 7 and 23? |
Chris Neil |
Ottawa |
3-7-10 in 60 GP |
Re-signed with Ottawa: Neil reportedly took less money to stay with the only NHL team he's ever played for -- just days after it appeared there would be no deal. When he's healthy, Neil is a tough guy who can actually play, a commodity that's much in demand around the NHL. |
Erik Cole |
Carolina |
18-24-42 in 80 GP |
Re-signed with Carolina; Cole struggled in Edmonton but perked up after returning to Carolina in a trade -- though he struggled to score in the playoffs. He meshes well with Eric Staal, Carolina's top center |
Mats Sundin |
Vancouver |
9-19-28 in 41 GP |
The Canucks hoped adding Sundin at midseason would be the last piece needed for a long playoff run. But he never really found his game after joining the team in January after a three-month soap opera. At 38, he's in the twilight of his career. |
Steve Sullivan |
Nashville |
11-21-32 in 41 GP |
Re-signed with Nashville: The Masterton Trophy winner showed he still had something left after missing nearly two years with a back injury. The Predators wasted little time making sure he would stay in Nashville. |
Jason Williams |
Columbus |
19-28-47 in 80 GP |
Williams finally managed to stay healthy and gave Columbus some offensive production after coming over in a midseason trade with Atlanta. He'll attract attention from teams that need secondary scoring. |
Brendan Morrison |
Dallas |
16-15-31 in 81 GP |
Morrison stayed healthy after an injury-plagued '07-08 season, but didn't put up the kind of numbers he did in his prime. He still has the ability to be a useful No. 2 or No. 3 center. |
Mark Recchi |
Boston |
23-38-61 in 80 GP |
Re-signed with Boston; He's 41, but Recchi continues to be a valuable contributor on offense and is showing no signs of slowing down. He was an excellent fit for the Bruins after coming from Tampa Bay at the trade deadline. |
Mike Comrie |
Ottawa |
10-17-27 in 63 GP |
Comrie's value figures to be down after the worst season of his career. But the five-time 20-goal scorer is still just 28 and could be a bargain if he's finally over the injuries that slowed him in '08-09. |